Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “encyclopedian” come from?

encyclopedian (English) comes from English encyclopedia, from New Latin encyclopaedia, from Ancient Greek παιδείᾱ, from Ancient Greek παῖς, from Proto-Hellenic pā́wits, from Proto-Indo-European péh₂wids, from Proto-Indo-European peh₂w- — few, little; smallness.

encyclopedian (English): Encyclopedic; embracing the whole circle of...

Definitions

  1. Encyclopedic; embracing the whole circle of...

Ancestry of “encyclopedian”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishencyclopediaA comprehensive reference work with articles on...
2New Latinencyclopaediageneral education; encyclopedia
3Ancient Greekπαιδείᾱrearing of a child, education; child-rearing,...
4Ancient Greekπαῖςchild, son, daughter; young person, child, boy,...
5Proto-Hellenicpā́witschild
6Proto-Indo-Europeanpéh₂wids—
7Proto-Indo-Europeanpeh₂w-few, little; smallness

Words derived from “encyclopedian”

  • encyclopaedian
Every word from Proto-Indo-European peh₂w- →